Chapter 107: When Everyone Gathers Firewood, the Flames Rise High

To be kicked out of bed first thing in the morning by someone who barges in and points at your nose, saying, “You’re not allowed to die until I get to kill you…”

Qin Haoxuan didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. He just stared blankly at Zhang Kuang’s hawk-like gaze for a moment before asking, “Is there anything else?”

His deadpan response was not what Zhang Kuang had expected. Whether in town or in the sect, his old rival had always met provocation with defiance.

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Kuang could only say, “No.”

“Okay, I understand,” Qin Haoxuan said, pointing to the door. “Don’t let it hit you on the way out.”

As Zhang Kuang turned to leave, Qin Haoxuan’s voice floated after him. “You broke the door. Shouldn’t you pay for it?”

“Hmph!” Zhang Kuang shot a cold snort over his shoulder and kept walking.

“If the door’s broken,” Qin Haoxuan’s voice came again, “I might catch a cold and die on Yan Dong’s stage. You wouldn’t want to blame me for that, would you?”

Zhang Kuang nearly stumbled. He turned and stared, wondering when his old rival had become such a scoundrel. He found that he disliked him even more now. “Someone will come and fix it,” he growled, and stalked away.

“Just give me one spirit stone instead,” Qin Haoxuan suggested.

Zhang Kuang’s foot froze in mid-air. He whipped his head around, spat out a single word, “Scram!”, and fled.

Pu Hanzhong arrived just in time to witness the entire exchange. He watched Zhang Kuang leave, then let out a long sigh.

“That boy is no simple character,” he said. “His fortuitous encounter wasn’t some treasure, but the trial of life and death itself. It seems we inadvertently helped him mature.” He then turned to Qin Haoxuan. “And you went to the Ancient Cloud Hall to challenge Yan Dong?”

Qin Haoxuan just gave him a sheepish grin. “Am I that famous now? Even you’ve heard about it, Senior Brother.”

“It’s not just me,” Pu said with a hint of exasperation. “The entire sect has heard. A new disciple who hasn’t even grown a leaf challenging a Twelfth-Leaf expert from the Ancient Cloud Hall. It’s the talk of the town. Why did you do it?”

“You are my Guiding Senior Brother,” Qin Haoxuan said, his expression serious. “It’s right for you to stand up for me. I am Little Gold’s master. It’s right for me to stand up for him. I can’t be a coward and let you carry all the burden.”

Pu Hanzhong let out a long sigh, punctuated by a series of coughs. “Cancel the challenge,” he urged. “It’s better to lose a little face than to lose your life.”

Qin Haoxuan just slowly shook his head, a look of youthful stubbornness in his eyes. Pu knew it was useless to argue. He resolved to wear Yan Dong down as much as possible in his own match to give his junior brother a better chance.

Just then, Xu Yu rushed in, an unhappy Luo Jinhua trailing behind her. Luo Jinhua had lost count of how many times Xu Yu had dropped her training for Qin Haoxuan.

This morning, just as she was about to explain an important cultivation theory, Xu Yu had overheard some gossip and had immediately run off.

“Brother Haoxuan, why did you challenge Yan Dong?” she asked, her voice filled with anxiety.

“He hurt Little Gold,” he replied calmly. It was the kind of calm she usually adored, but right now, she wanted to peel it away and see what hidden trump card gave him the confidence to make such a challenge.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a smile, sensing her concern. “I know what I’m doing.”

His words did little to reassure her. Luo Jinhua could see the turmoil in her heart. If this continued, it would harm her cultivation. And if anything happened to Qin Haoxuan, Xu Yu’s already weak competitive drive would surely collapse.

“Junior Brother Qin,” Luo Jinhua said, her tone as gentle as she could make it, “we know your intentions. But Yan Dong is a Twelfth-Leaf cultivator. Don’t let your impulse ruin you and make Junior Sister Xu worry.”

She had stopped just short of saying, If you want to get yourself killed, fine, but why drag her down with you?

“I know what I’m doing,” he repeated.

Luo Jinhua knew it was pointless to argue. With a heavy heart, she took out a cyan jade talisman and handed it to him. “This is a Fifteenth-Leaf defensive talisman. If you’re not going to surrender, use this in an emergency.” Qin Haoxuan accepted it with a word of thanks.

“Then I’ll challenge him too!” Xu Yu declared.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Qin Haoxuan said, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t dare accept a challenge from a Purple Seed. And if he did and you got hurt, the Sect Master would have my head.”

Just then, there was another knock on the door. This time, it was a group of disciples from the four great halls, all of whom had hired Little Gold to manage their fields.

They filed in, crowding the small room. Seeing Xu Yu and Luo Jinhua there, they exchanged knowing glances.

They had already concluded that the only way Little Gold could have been miraculously cured was if Xu Yu had used her status to ask a powerful elder for help. Seeing her here now only confirmed their suspicions.

“Junior Brother Qin, we heard you challenged Yan Dong,” one of them said.

Qin Haoxuan nodded.

“I’ve been wanting to teach that scoundrel a lesson for a long time,” the disciple said smoothly, “but I’ve been too busy. Since you and Senior Brother Pu are handling it, I won’t join the fun. But here,” he said, taking out a talisman, “this is a Fourteenth-Leaf attack talisman. Please accept it, and consider it my payment for you punching him a few extra times for me.”

“He said exactly what I was thinking!” another added. “Punch him a few times for me too!”

One by one, they came forward, giving him gifts: pills to rapidly restore spiritual energy, talismans that increased one’s running speed, and other useful items.

Qin Haoxuan accepted them all graciously. He knew what this was really about. They were giving him survival tools not out of hatred for Yan Dong, but to ensure that he lived through the duel.

If he died, who would manage their fields? He also noticed their subtle glances toward Xu Yu. He understood. They were using this as an opportunity to get on her good side, to invest in a future relationship with a Purple Seed by helping her close friend.

“Thank you all for your concern for Brother Haoxuan,” Xu Yu said sweetly.

“We’re all in the same boat,” they replied with satisfied smiles. “It’s only right.”

After they had left, Pu Hanzhong’s face was wreathed in a genuine smile. He was truly happy for his junior brother. He was finally building his own network. With more people to support him, his path in the cultivation world would be a little easier.

Xu Yu’s time was precious. After reminding Qin Haoxuan to train hard for the next nine days, she and Luo Jinhua reluctantly took their leave, and the small room was quiet once more.

PS: Starting to resume stable updates. Six days until the ten-chapter explosion… On March 1st, it officially begins. Ten chapters! I didn’t even stop updating over the New Year, I’m impressed with myself! Come on! Recommendation votes!

(End of Chapter)